Primera Project Earns AIA Chicago People’s Choice Award

October 14, 2026

Earlier this month, Primera joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chicago at Designight, an annual event celebrating the design achievements of organization members and recognizing projects of all scales with awards.

Held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millenium Park, Designight 2026 honored the impressive achievements of local architects and design professionals and recognized the winners of AIA Chicago’s signature Design Excellence Awards program.

One of Primera’s projects, The James & Elizabeth Bramsen Tropical Forests at Brookfield Zoo, earned the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award in the Culture & Museum category. Presented in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center, the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards give the public an opportunity to support their favorite project across several categories.

The James & Elizabeth Bramsen Tropical Forests

The Bramsen Tropical Forests is a three-acre expansion creating four new outdoor habitats for gorillas, orangutans, gibbons and monkeys. In addition to the habitats, the Bramsen Tropical Forests includes five viewing shelters, a dedicated conservation center and new indoor dayrooms inspired by the rainforests of Africa, Asia and South America. The project also included the addition of heated outdoor public restrooms and enhancements to visitor amenities. This expansion is considered the largest project in the zoo’s history.

As part of the project team, Primera provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services to support the facility’s design and related site improvements.

Photography by Tom Harris.

Two additional Primera projects, the Sankofa Village Wellness Center and The Bell, were also nominated for the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards in the Healthcare and Office categories respectively.

AIA Chicago is one of the largest and most influential chapters of The American Institute of Architects in the country with a membership exceeding 3,500 individuals including architects, architectural designers, and a broad network of industry partners and students. AIA Chicago’s mission builds on the city’s architectural legacy by advocating for the profession, sharing knowledge among members, and partnering with communities. The chapter fosters a culture of design excellence for equitable, sustainable places and spaces.